Coin sorting apparatus, control system for controlling coin sorting apparatus, and method for sorting coins

Abstract

Disclosed is a coin sorting apparatus whose operation is controlled by sensing means to count the received coins. The coin sorting apparatus includes a coin sorting device for sorting coins according to size of the coins, a guide for transferring the coins sorted by the coin sorting device to a predetermined location, a first sensor for counting the number of the coins being sorted, the first sensor being formed on the guide, a coin receiving tube disposed on an end portion of the guide to receive the coins transferred from the guide, a receiving container for receiving the coin receiving tube, the receiving container being provided at a lower side with a second sensing hole and a sliding projection, a sliding member provided with a sliding groove engaged with the sliding projection so that the receiving container can be easily inserted and withdrawn, a second sensor spaced apart from the second sensing hole at a predetermined distance and aligned with the second sensing hole to be in-line; and a microcomputer for controlling the coin sorting apparatus in accordance with signals from the first and second sensors.

1. A coin sorting apparatus comprising:
 a coin sorting member configured to sort coins according to the size of the coins; 
 a guide configured to transfer the coins sorted by the coin sorting member to a predetermined location; 
 a first sensor formed on the guide and configured to count the number of the coins being sorted; 
 a plurality of coin receiving tubes disposed on an end portion of the guide, said tubes being configured to receive the coins transferred from the guide according to the size of the coins; 
 a plurality of receiving containers configured to receive the plurality of coin receiving tubes, each of the plurality of receiving containers being provided at a lower side with a sliding projection and wherein each of the plurality of receiving containers includes a plurality of coin receiving tubes of the same size; 
 a sliding member provided with a plurality of sliding grooves engaged with the sliding projections so that the plurality of receiving containers can be individually inserted and withdrawn; 
 a second sensor including two sensor elements arranged on opposed sides of the sliding member to transmit signals to each other to detect a state variation and configured to detect if the coin receiving tubes are positioned on a first location and a second location for appropriately receiving the coins by sensing a displacement of the receiving container; 
 a microcomputer configured to control the coin sorting apparatus in accordance with signals from the first and second sensor; and 
 wherein when one of the plurality of coin receiving tubes of the same size is positioned to receive the coins, another of the plurality of coin receiving tubes of the same size is positioned to be taken out of the receiving container. 
 
     
     
       2. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a speaker configured to make a predetermined sound according to an operation state of the coin sorting member. 
     
     
       3. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a control/display part configured to control and display an operation state of the coin sorting member. 
     
     
       4. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are formed of an optical sensor. 
     
     
       5. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the coin sorting member comprises a motor, a rotational shaft driven by the motor, a carrier container coupled on the rotational shaft and provided with carrier holes through which the coins are carried one by one, and a separation member provided with a plurality of separation holes having different sizes, the separation holes being formed corresponding to the carrier holes to separate the coins according to size. 
     
     
       6. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding projection comprises an extending portion extending downward from the receiving container, upper and lower plates disposed around the extending portion, and an elastic member disposed around the extending portion between the upper and lower plates to bias the upper plate upward to create friction force between the sliding member and the upper plate. 
     
     
       7. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the microcomputer controls the coin sorting apparatus such that the number or amount of coins being received in the coin receiving tube in the course of the operation of the coin sorting member and the number or amount of coins received in the coin receiving tube when the operation of the coin sorting member is stopped can be distinguishably displayed. 
     
     
       8. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is formed to be offset from a center of the guide. 
     
     
       9. A coin sorting apparatus comprising:
 a coin sorting member configured to sort coins according to the size of the coins; 
 a plurality of guides configured to transfer the coins sorted by the coin sorting member to a predetermined location; 
 a first sensor formed on each of the guides, configured to count the number of the coins being sorted; 
 a plurality of coin receiving tubes disposed on an end portion of each of the guides, said tubes being configured to receive the coins transferred from the guides; 
 a plurality of receiving containers configured to receive the plurality of coin receiving tubes, each of the plurality of the receiving containers being provided at a lower side with a sliding projection and wherein each of the plurality of receiving containers includes a plurality of coin receiving tubes of the same size; 
 a sliding member provided with a plurality of sliding grooves engaged with the sliding projection so that the receiving containers can be inserted and withdrawn; 
 a microcomputer configured to control the coin sorting apparatus in accordance with a signal from the first sensor; 
 wherein the plurality of sliding grooves are formed on the same horizontal plane; and 
 wherein when one of the plurality of coin receiving tubes of the same size is positioned to receive the coins, another of the plurality of coin receiving tubes of the same size is positioned to be taken out of the receiving container. 
 
     
     
       10. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a speaker configured to make a predetermined sound according to an operation state of the coin sorting member. 
     
     
       11. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a control/display part configured to control and display an operation state of the coin sorting member. 
     
     
       12. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor is formed of an optical sensor. 
     
     
       13. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the coin sorting member comprises a motor, a rotational shaft driven by the motor, a carrier container coupled on the rotational shaft and provided with carrier holes through which the coins are carried one by one, and a separation member provided with a plurality of separation holes having different sizes, the separation holes being formed corresponding to the carrier holes to separate the coins according to size. 
     
     
       14. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the microcomputer controls the coin sorting apparatus such that the number or amount of coins being received in the coin receiving tube in the course of the operation of the coin sorting member and the number or amount of coins received in the coin receiving tube when the operation of the coin sorting member is stopped can be displayed. 
     
     
       15. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first sensor is formed to be offset from a center of the guide. 
     
     
       16. A coin sorting apparatus comprising:
 a coin sorting member configured to sort coins according to the size of the coins; 
 a plurality of guides configured to transfer the coins sorted by the coin sorting member to a predetermined location; 
 a first sensor formed on each of the guides, configured to count the number of the coins being sorted; 
 a plurality of coin receiving tubes disposed on an end portion of each of the guides, said tubes being configured to receive the coins transferred from the guides; 
 a plurality of receiving containers configured to receive the plurality of coin receiving tubes, each of the plurality of the receiving containers being provided at a lower side with a sliding projection and including a plurality of coin receiving tubes of the same size, each said sliding projection comprising an extending portion extending downwardly from the receiving container, upper and lower plates disposed around the extending portion, and an elastic member disposed around the extending portion between the upper and lower plates to bias the upper plate upwardly to create friction force between the sliding member and the upper plate; 
 a sliding member provided with a sliding groove engaged with the sliding projection so that the receiving container can be inserted and withdrawn; 
 a microcomputer for controlling the coin sorting apparatus in accordance with a signal from the first sensing means; and 
 wherein when one of the plurality of coin receiving tubes of the same size is positioned to receive the coins, another of the plurality of coin receiving tubes of the same size is positioned to be taken out of the receiving container. 
 
     
     
       17. A coin sorting apparatus comprising:
 a coin sorting member configured to sort coins according to the size of the coins; 
 a guide configured to transfer the coins sorted by the coin sorting member to a predetermined location; 
 a plurality of coin receiving tubes disposed on an end portion of the guide, said tubes being configured to receive the coins transferred from the guide; 
 a plurality of receiving containers configured to receive the plurality of coin receiving tubes, each of the plurality of the receiving containers being provided at a lower side with a sliding projection and wherein each of the plurality of receiving containers includes a plurality of coin receiving tubes of the same size; 
 a sliding member provided with a plurality of sliding grooves engaged with the sliding projection so that the plurality of receiving containers can be individually inserted and withdrawn; 
 a receiving container detecting sensor including two sensor elements arranged on opposed sides of the sliding member to transmit signals to each other to detect a state variation and configured to detect if the coin receiving tubes are positioned on a first location and a second location for appropriately receiving the coins by sensing a displacement of the receiving container; 
 a microcomputer configured to control the coin sorting apparatus in accordance with signals from the receiving container detecting sensor; and 
 wherein when one of the plurality of coin receiving tubes of the same size is positioned to receive the coins, another of the plurality of coin receiving tubes of the same size is positioned to be taken out of the receiving container. 
 
     
     
       18. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the receiving container detecting sensor is an optical sensor. 
     
     
       19. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the coin sorting member comprises a motor, a rotational shaft driven by the motor, a carrier container coupled on the rotational shaft and provided with carrier holes through which the coins are carried one by one, and a separation member provided with a plurality of separation holes having different sizes, the separation holes being formed corresponding to the carrier holes to separate the coins according to size. 
     
     
       20. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the sliding projection comprises an extending portion extending downward from the receiving container, upper and lower plates disposed around the extending portion, and an elastic member disposed around the extending portion between the upper and lower plates to bias the upper plate upward to create friction force between the sliding member and the upper plate. 
     
     
       21. A coin sorting apparatus comprising:
 a coin sorting member configured to sort coins according to the size of the coins; 
 a guide configured to transfer the coins sorted by the coin sorting member to a predetermined location; 
 a plurality of coin receiving tubes configured to receive the coins transferred from the guide; 
 a receiving container configured to receive the plurality of coin receiving tubes, and wherein the receiving containers includes a plurality of coin receiving tubes of the same size; 
 a sliding member provided with a sliding groove engaged with the receiving container so that the receiving container can be inserted and withdrawn; 
 a receiving container detecting sensor including two sensor elements arranged on opposed sides of the sliding member to transmit signals to each other to detect a state variation and configured to detect if the coin receiving tube is positioned on a first location and a second location for appropriately receiving the coins by sensing a displacement of the receiving container; 
 a microcomputer configured to control the coin sorting apparatus in accordance with a signal from the receiving container detecting sensor; and 
 wherein when one of the plurality of coin receiving tubes of the same size is positioned to receive the coins, another of the plurality of coin receiving tubes of the same size is positioned to be taken out of the receiving container. 
 
     
     
       22. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a coin detecting sensor configured to count the number of the coins being sorted; and 
 a display device configured to display the number of sorted coins in accordance with a signal detected by the coin detecting sensor. 
 
     
     
       23. A coin sorting apparatus comprising:
 a coin sorting member configured to sort coins according to the size of the coins; 
 a guide configured to transfer the coins sorted by the coin sorting member to a predetermined location; 
 a coin receiving tube configured to receive the coins transferred from the guide; 
 a receiving container configured to receive the coin receiving tube; 
 a sliding member provided with a sliding groove engaged with the receiving container so that the receiving container can be inserted and withdrawn; 
 a first sensor configured to count the number of coins being sorted according to the size of the coins; 
 a second sensor including two sensor elements arranged on opposed sides of the sliding member to transmit signals to each other to detect a state variation and configured to detect if the coin receiving tube is positioned on a first location, a second location and third location for appropriately receiving the coins by sensing a displacement of the receiving container; 
 a microcomputer configured to control the coin sorting apparatus in accordance with signals from the first and second sensor; 
 wherein if the coin receiving tube is positioned on the first location and the second location, the microcomputer controls the coin sorting member to sort coins; 
 wherein if the coin receiving tube is positioned on the third location, the microcomputer controls the coin sorting member to stop sorting coins, and 
 wherein when the receiving container moves on the sliding member, the coin receiving tube is positioned on the first location, the second location and the third location. 
 
     
     
       24. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a speaker configured to make a predetermined sound when it is determined by the first sensor that a predetermined number of the coins are sorted or the operation of the coin sorting member is stopped. 
     
     
       25. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a control/display part configured to control and display an operation state of the coin sorting member. 
     
     
       26. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 a user interface configured to allow a user to control the coin sorting apparatus and display an operation state of the coin sorting apparatus. 
 
     
     
       27. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of control buttons and a display part. 
     
     
       28. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the microcomputer controls the coin sorting apparatus such that amounts of the coins sorted by the size or a total amount of the sorted coins can be displayed. 
     
     
       29. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the microcomputer controls the coin sorting apparatus such that the number of coins sorted by size can be displayed within a predetermined range. 
     
     
       30. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the microcomputer controls the coin sorting apparatus such that the number of coins being received in the coin receiving tube in the course of the operation of the coin sorting member and the number of coins received in the coin receiving tube when the operation of the coin sorting member is stopped can be distinguishably displayed. 
     
     
       31. A coins sorting apparatus comprising:
 a coin sorting member configured to sort coins according to size of the coins; 
 a guide configured to transfer the coins sorted by the coin sorting member to a predetermined location; 
 a plurality of coin receiving tubes configured to receive the coins transferred from the guide; 
 a plurality of receiving containers configured to receive the plurality of coin receiving tubes, each of the plurality of receiving containers being provided at a lower side with a sliding projection, wherein each of the plurality of receiving containers receives a plurality of coin receiving tubes of the same size; 
 a sliding member disposed below the plurality of receiving containers and provided with a plurality of sliding grooves engaged with the sliding projection so that the plurality of receiving containers can be individually inserted and withdrawn; and 
 wherein the plurality of coin receiving tubes include a first, a second and a third coin receiving tubes designed in an identical size to receive an identical size of coins, and wherein the first, second, and third coin receiving tubes are received in a single receiving container. 
 
     
     
       32. The coin sorting apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the first coin receiving tube and the second coin receiving tube are located on a first horizontal plane and the third coin receiving tube is located on a second horizontal plane, and
 wherein the second horizontal plane is lower than the first horizontal plane.